The Asian squat. I’ve always been able to do it naturally. For those of you who don’t know, the Asian squat is when you have both feet on the ground, butt touching ankles and knees spread wide. I’ve always done it but the first time I really noticed others doing it was when I went to Bali. Every street I walked down, there were lines and lines of men and women doing the Asian squat asking me if I wanted to buy women, drugs, and/or tourist crap. I almost forgot–in one hand they always had a cigarette and/or a beer. Sometimes both.

Still not sure what I’m talking about? Check out Daniel Hsia’s amazing video, “How to do the Asian Squat” [2002].

It wasn’t until relatively recently did I find out that not everyone can do the Asian squat. It was difficult for me to believe since the Asian squat is as natural to me as breathing. So I conducted an informal study of my friends and found that the non-Asians weren’t able to do it. Or I should say, some could do it but they couldn’t hold it for more than a few seconds.

This got me thinking. Are Asians the only race of people specifically designed to do the Asian squat? My dear 8Asians reader, I have been put here on earth to answer this question for you. I’ve conducted hours… okay a half hour… of Internet “research.” This is what I discovered:

Where did the Asian squat come from?

Finding out the history of the Asian squat proved a lot more difficult than you would have imagined. I found only one site that mentioned where it came from and this is what they said:

Originating in India, the squat made its way to China, where Asians figured that it was the ideal way to eat rice and be ready to defecate at any given time.

I have a feeling they were being a little facetious but I think they were partially right. I believe it probably started because it was the preferred method to go number two. I remember when I took a month long backpacking course in the wilderness and I was ideally suited for going number two in the woods because I was naturally good at the Asian squat and could hold the position for hours (if I wanted to). My camping-mates were jealous.

Can non-Asians do the Asian squat?

Like the history of the Asian squat, finding any scientific studies on whether non-Asians could do the Asian squat proved very difficult. But I did find one:

So we did a test – 100% of the Asians could squat with feet on the ground (P<0.000063) while only 13.5% of North Americans could (p<0.0000043). And of the 13.5%, 9% had part ASIAN ancestry in them. The remaining one was a Yoga Freak.

It’s unclear how many people were tested in this study but these were pretty similar to what I have found amongst my friends.

What is it about Asians that give them the unique ability to the Asian squat?

There were a few sites that offered up some theories. Here were my favorites.

East Asians have proportionately shorter legs than most Americans, so their squat shall have a different balance point.

To test this theory I took off all my clothes and I looked in the mirror (which I don’t recommend if you value your eyesight). My legs did seem a little short but since I had nothing to compare it with, I will have to reserve judgment.

Of course, this doesn’t explain Asian Americans who can do the Asian squat since I assume most of us use a typical sitting down American toilet but it’s an interesting theory nonetheless.

In the end, do I believe Asians are the only race that can do the Asian squat? No. To say one race can do something and that other races cannot is not only racist but also ignorant. We can all do the Asian squat. For some, it’s just a little easier. But it is not biological or even sociological; it is as simply a matter of flexibility. This was one persons recommendation on how EVERYONE can do the Asian squat.

Your problem is tight calf muscles. You didn’t grow up squatting on a regular basis so your calf muscles shortened. Women who wear high heals every day have an even worse problem with this as they find they can’t wear flat shoes or go barefoot comfortably. Shortened calf muscles caused from wearing shoes with heals higher than the ball of the foot (even an inch or less) is also a main contributing cause to plantar fasciitis.

Anyway, the solution takes time as you must slowly stretch the calf muscles to allow a proper flat footed squat. Stretch two or three times per day every day of the week and within a few months you’ll have no problem with a comfortable flat footed squat.

People can control their defecation, to some extent, by contracting or releasing the anal sphincter. But that muscle can’t maintain continence on its own. The body also relies on a bend between the rectum–where feces builds up–and the anus–where feces comes out. When we’re standing up, the extent of this bend, called the anorectal angle, is about 90 degrees, which puts upward pressure on the rectum and keeps feces inside. In a squatting posture, the bend straightens out, like a kink ringed out of a garden hose, and defecation becomes easier.

Proponents of squatting argue that conventional toilets produce an anorectal angle that’s ill-suited for defecation. By squatting, they say, we can achieve “complete evacuation” of the colon, ridding our bowels of disease-causing toxins.

So as you can see the Asian squat isn’t just fun it’s healthy! My fellow Asians, let’s start a health movement: Do the Asian squat for a healthy life!

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That’s funny– I was just thinking about that. My grandmother (from Japan) hated this position and said it was something ‘farmers’ did (she looked down on farmers…long story). I kind of hate it myself….looks like someone pooping. I can do it, but I don’t. Guess tutu got her subliminal message in.

ever see how gymnastics coaches force crazy stretches on little kids in Russian and China? That’s how they get flexible

If you do it when you’re young and continue until you are an adult…of course you can still do it. Worthless article.

Anondragon

It is a racial factor for sure.
Of course other races can do it, but it take practice.
The evidence that its a racial factor is common sense. From childhood Asian kids know how to do it. Its natural. While pure European kids (im European) cannot do it. You naturally go into a position that you are favorable with, and Europeans dont Asian squat because for most of our bodies its uncomfortable. And I am not talking about Americans but skinny Europeans like me who have normal weight.

I am European of the “classic type”, that is Tall, blond blue eyed, etc. What I noticed is that this classic type of Europe like me, have LONG QUADRICEPS and long calves but still slightly shorter than quadriceps. Look at Greek statues which are naked to understand this. So naturally when we squat very low like Asians, we lose balance. Asians I noticed tend to have less full legs and buttocks, and stronger longer calves. Hence the weight point is shifted to the calves which gives them strong balance in that position.

However…In my opinion there are many instances were the European type is favorable, for instance for swimming, our buttocks and quadriceps give us alot of power.

what kind of racist crap is this?
scottish/german grew up in nyc, i always have been able to squat and any time i feel like it i do,such as waiting for the train,not that people don’t give me weird looks when i do.
i think it is far more cultural then anything as stupid as biological
in the west “to sit” implies sitting on a chair.
anything lower is seen as bad manners, or lack of class(literally, poor, homeless, ect.)
no one of any wealth or status would be caught sitting anyway except for erect and on a chair.

O rly

“my parents never told me not to squat (you know, “sit ladylike!”) ”

bingo!
its purely a cultural taboo, and since people in the west discourage it, people are less able to later in life since its a position their body is not used to.

It’s way easy to do, I think the Westerners who can’t do it at all just get the footing wrong because they do the same position they’re used to for squatting.

I noticed I need tow ork to maintain balance when I look up though. I guess I have too much belly/ass fat!

Torben Pasucha

I’s better for your back anyway.

MrHotPickles

If you try to do this and you can’t make it work, try pointing your toes outward and spread your feet a little wider. At some point, your heels will touch the ground. If you look at the kids in the photo above, only the little girl has her heels on the ground. Apparently the boys are doing it wrong. 🙂

kim dobrin

my friend can do it quite easily,and he is stocky,and totally non-flexible.

kim dobrin

if they are not flat it is just an ordinary squat.It has to be an extention of standing and just sitting instead of standing.Must be flat footed to be comfortable

Uhm, born and raised in america. Never used an asian style toilet. Just tried it. Squat with completely flat foot naturally first time. yawn

YunYun Liu

born and raised in texas. did it first try easily in college without having “learned” it. I would agree with genetic flexibility on this one

Chris DeYoung

I’m a 36 year old, 6’3″, Caucasian-American male. I’m also somewhat thin. I can easily and comfortably do an “Asian squat”. I work as a construction electrician and do sometimes work in a squatting position. I believe the ability to do an “Asian squat is likely mostly related to a person’s flexibility, which allows a person to squat in this manner and maintain a center of balance. Genetics may prevent some people from doing it due to body proportions being disproportionate per the average (see “Golden Ratio”).

kim dobrin

everyone squats when young.I really wanted to make sure my son could always squat,but when he was 4 he lost interest. The western posture is the reason, and sitting on bad chairs.The first time I got to India, I could not believe old people could squat easier than a 20 year old fit man (me).I’m 60 now,and for the last 3 years I can’t do it anymore.Just got lazy, stopped yoga, put on weight etc

Anton Keiser

I know I’m joining the discussion here late, as most of these comments are at least four years old, but oh well. I’m a Caucasian American, no Asian descent whatsoever, and I can and have always been able to do the Asian squat perfectly and for long periods of time. I’m also 6’2″, so I don’t think height has anything to do with it. I’m a believer in the tight calves theory. As my girlfriend (who is 5’7″ and Caucasian) can do it easily too. My younger brother can do the squat also, and he is slightly taller than I am. My cousin is six four and can’t really do it, but he also isn’t quite as flexible as I am in the calves. He’s the one who brought this topic to my attention in the first place.

The first time I encountered the asian squat, the squater was African.

Duncan Harris

“It’s unclear how many people were tested in this study but these were pretty similar to what I have found amongst my friends.”

No, it’s quite clear with a little bit of maths:

We know 13.5 % of the North American sample can squat.
We also know 9% of the North American sample are part-Asians who can squat.
Therefore 4.5 % of the North American sample are non-part-Asians who can squat, but we know that that 4.5% is a single yoga freak. Therefore 1 person is 4.5% of the sample.

If we divide 100% by 4.5% we reveal the North American sample size which is 22.

So, of those 22, 3 can squat, 2 of those are part-Asians who can squat, the other 1 is a yoga freak who can squat. Meanwhile, there are 19 who can’t squat.

It might be possible to work out the other sample size from the p value but I’d at least have to reread my statistics notes and have a think about that and what model they used.

Federica

Uhmmm in sake of your research: I am 1.73m, my legs are longer than most legs of other girls tall 1.78 I’ve ever met. And I can stay in the Asian Squat position for ages… Well, to be honest it’s pretty comfortable for me and I use to hold it to read, surf the internet, relax, etc.
I’m Italian! 🙂

iko: STFU mikey STORMloq, the same garbage that is found in STOMRfront. Aren't you yourself doing the same "...making subjective statements about your own ethnicity, just... – What Do White Supremacists Think of Asians?